Fintech future ahead for young minds of industry
Bradcoin, a digital rewards token, is at the heart of a wave of fintech innovation emerging from the University of Bradford, where students are reimagining how technology can improve everyday financial experiences.
Created by postgraduate students on the University’s MSc Financial Technology (FinTech) programme, Bradcoin is a proposed campus‑wide digital token that would reward students for taking part in societies, events and other activities. The idea showcases the creativity and practical problem‑solving that are driving a new generation of fintech talent at the University of Bradford.
The Bradcoin phone app concept, designed by a group of students. Images credit: Kiran Metha@KM Images Ltd
What is fintech?
Fintech is software, mobile applications, and other technologies developed to improve traditional financial services.
It uses digital banking, payments such as PayPal, lending, investing, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to offer faster and more accessible financial solutions for people and businesses.
The global fintech market was valued at £343 billion ($394.88bn US) in 2025 and projected to increase to £400bn ($460.76bn US) this year. In 2025, the UK was ranked the second-largest fintech market globally, with £2.7-2.8bn in investment, employing more than 360,000 people.
Fintech students, Dhruviben Valand and Nathaniel Diamond with their respective group projects on screen – TrueRate and Bradcoin. Images credit: Kiran Metha@KM Images Ltd
Students’ fintech stories
The University is positioning itself as a hub for emerging fintech talent as it helps transfer theories to solve real-world issues for students and beyond.
As part of their MSc Financial Technology (FinTech) programme project work the students have devised a series of concept ideas. One group of students created Bradcoin, a reward-based digital token system aimed at boosting student engagement, including participation in societies and events, across campus.
Through the phone app, which is at the concept stage, students would earn Bradcoins for engaging with activities and could redeem them with vendors on campus.
Nathaniel Diamond, 27, from Nigeria, part of the Bradcoin project group, previously worked in software engineering in the US and aims to set up his own wealth management firm in the future.
He said: “Technology gives me that experience of constant evolution of what I’m doing. If you’re good at something today in tech, in the next five months you will probably see somebody who’s done something better than that and you must upscale. And I love that.
“Education is an investment. It is active learning here. Every day we are learning how fintech is reshaping the finance industry.”
Students Nathaniel Diamond and Dhruviben Valand. Images credit: Kiran Metha@KM Images Ltd
Another project concept looked at tackling real issues faced by international students. TrueRate is a foreign exchange comparison calculator designed to help reduce the financial losses associated with bank transfer rates. By analysing rates across major banks, students created a tool which would support their peers in managing money more effectively.
Dhruviben Valand, 23, from India, part of the TrueRate group, said: “Fintech is a huge industry. It’s a great opportunity to develop my career. The University is very helpful for students, especially international students. It’s a great environment to learn.”
Other fintech students’ project ideas included FairCredit Bradford, which builds students’ credit scores while they are at university to benefit them after they graduate, provides faster access to student hardship loans and coaching for budgeting tools and scam prevention. SmurfGuard saw students look to work with banks to develop an AI process to identify small money laundering, or abnormal, banking activities.
From left, students Nathaniel Diamond and Dhruviben Valand with Dr Sherena Huang, Assistant Professor in Finance and Financial Technology at the University of Bradford. Images credit: Kiran Metha@KM Images Ltd
Real world solutions
Dr Sherena Huang, Assistant Professor in Finance and Financial Technology at the University of Bradford, said: “Students can develop their financial technology projects to help with everyday activities. Deposits, savings, investment, fraud detection, or personal award management advice, can be done together.
“Even with University student loans, we can use fintech to improve the process.
“Students not only learn the theories, programming or coding, but they learn how to practice their knowledge and concepts in the real world.”